Martin Edwards curates a riveting collection of crime stories with a distinctly Scottish flavor in "The Edinburgh Mystery and Other Tales of Scottish Crime." This anthology transports readers to the atmospheric landscapes of Scotland, where mysteries unfold, and crime takes center stage in various forms, all expertly crafted by an array of talented writers.

The titular tale, "The Edinburgh Mystery," sets the tone for the collection, immersing readers in the heart of Scotland's capital city. Edwards deftly selects stories that traverse the spectrum of crime fiction, showcasing the diversity of the genre within a Scottish context. From gritty urban mysteries to atmospheric rural crime, each narrative resonates with the unique character of its setting.

Edwards' skillful curation extends beyond showcasing different locales; it also captures the essence of Scottish culture and history. The tales unfold against the backdrop of iconic landmarks, and the rich tapestry of Scottish life provides a compelling backdrop to the crimes that unfold. Whether it's the winding streets of Edinburgh, the mist-covered Highlands, or the close-knit communities of small towns, each story brings a distinct flavor to the collection.

One notable strength of the anthology lies in the array of characters presented. From seasoned detectives to ordinary individuals caught in extraordinary circumstances, the authors breathe life into a diverse cast. Each protagonist grapples with moral dilemmas, personal demons, and the complexities of justice, creating narratives that are as much about the human condition as they are about solving crimes.

Edwards, known for his expertise in the mystery genre, provides insightful introductions to each story, offering context and highlighting the significance of the tales within the broader landscape of Scottish crime fiction. This adds depth to the reading experience, making the collection accessible to both enthusiasts of the genre and those new to Scottish crime fiction.

"The Edinburgh Mystery and Other Tales of Scottish Crime" is a captivating compilation that showcases the talent of various authors while paying homage to the atmospheric allure of Scotland. Martin Edwards' expert curation and the diverse selection of narratives make this anthology a compelling read for anyone intrigued by the nuanced world of crime fiction or captivated by the mystique of Scottish landscapes.

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Publishers for an advance copy for my honest review.

I wanted to read this collection more because I ended up liking Edinburgh (the city) a lot more than I did London when I visited earlier this year. The bright lights of bigger metropolises have never been one to attract me. That said, this collection is very loosely based around the core idea of being based in Scotland. Very few have the plot making a difference because of the Scottish influence.

Markheim by Robert Louis Stevenson – 1885 (4 stars)
This was an interesting look into the personality of a man and how he deals with his basest instinct. It is almost literally a conversation between a murderer and his conscience. The way the story builds makes for an interesting talking point.

The Field Bazaar by Arthus Conan Doyle – 1896 (3 stars)
This is a very short and brief interaction between Sherlock Holmes and Watson in the usual style, which I surprisingly do not remember reading before. The lines of the story are the standard ones.

The Edinburgh Mystery by Baroness Orczy -1902′(4 stars)
I have read two ‘Man in the Corner’ collections quite early in my blogging journey and some stories are more interesting than others. This was longer than some of the others I remember but was not one I had encountered before. It is a tale of loyalty and robbery, and as with almost all the stories told by the man to Polly, the journalist, it is not one that is resolved to the satisfaction of everyone.

The Honour of Israel Gow by G.K Chesterton – 1911 (3 stars)
This was a long convoluted story (or it felt that way) of many theories and speculators until the final reveal.

A Medical Crime by J.Storer Clouston – 1920 ( 4 stars)
I liked the way the story unfolded. It begins with a string of buglaries and some suspects. Our narrator offers to help and what he reveals at the very end had me chuckling a little, not a reaction I expected to have in this kind of collection.

Footsteps by Anthony Wynne – 1926 (3 stars)
What begins as an investigation into sounds unearths a mystery that was not part of the original story when the plot begins. Mysterious sounds and an old building are part of the mix.

The White Line by John Ferguson – 1929 (4 stars)
Bored people on a cruise speculate on who would win a girl’s heart. Between the two contenders, the speculations are rife.

The Body of Sir Henry by Augustus Muir – 1929 (4 stars)
On a lonely road, a man sees something in a car that stops near him, and he ends up following up on his hunch.

Madame Ville dÁubier by Josephine Tey – 1930 ( 3 stars)
I would have liked this short intelligent piece a little more if I could confirm what I took away from it to be the actual thing that the author meant for the ending. A couple wander into an eatery and end up having a strange experience.

The Man on Ben Na Garve by H.H.Bashford – 1933 ( 4 stars)
A typical narrative (or so it begins) of people sitting around a table and someone starting a tale with a purpose in mind. What emerges from that story was new. I had to read the last couple of lines a few times to make sure I got the meaning right.

Before Insulin by J.J Connington – 1936 (3 stars)
A will needs to be executed but how the sincerity of the people involved is judged forms the story. It was a pretty standard story, not unique but flows well.

The Case of the Frugal Cake by Margery Lawrence – 1955
A short and efficient story of a murderer getting caught with cake of all things.

Thursday’s Child by Cyril Hare – 1959 ( 4 stars)
There is a serious but adventurous tone to the story. Until the very end, it is almost impossible to guess where things are going.

The Alibi Man by Bill Knox – 1965 ( 5 stars)
Not exactly a mystery, but a man locked in a cellar finds out some hard truths. This almost felt like a graver version of modern thrillers.

The Fishermen by Michael Innes- 1971
Appelby is part of a group of men who hear a tale and then one of them ends up dead.

The running of the deer by P.M Hubbard – 1974 ( 2 stars)
Interesting story about people and their relationships, but given its placement in the book and it not being my kind of plot, I did not enjoy it as much.

Hand in Glove by Jennie Melvin – 1974 (3 stars)
A decent story with a first person narrative and a not-so-faithful man at its centre.

This collection was surprising. I altered my ratings when I was reviewing because as I went back to the individual stories (one of the reasons I do this in the first place), I realised how much more I liked all of them (almost) than I originally assumed when I started typing out the review. I would highly recommend this to fans of short almost-mystery stories.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Deserted estates with mysterious gardners. Remote Highland settings, perfect for fishing and murder. Rough, imperfect crime solvers. This collection of crime stories are all set in and around Scotland and highlight the locations that make it such a wild and wonderful place.

Not at all what I was expecting. I wanted mysteries set in and around Edinburgh and that was not this.

From the Highlands to the borders, the bustling cities to the remote isles in cold seas, the unique landscapes and locales of Scotland have long inspired writers of the very best Golden Age mysteries. Beginning with the adventures of Sherlock Holmes from Edinburgh-born Arthur Conan Doyle, this new collection includes the ingenious scientific mysteries of Anthony Wynne, the dark and sardonic work of Margot Bennett and contributions from neglected yet brilliant authors such as Scobie Mackenzie and R. T. Campbell. Amazing collection of short stories written by some of the finest authors. my favorite story was The Body of Sir Henry but they will all keep you guessing. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

The Edinburgh Mystery is the latest collection of mystery stories to be edited by Martin Edwards. This time, all of the stories and/or authors have strong links to or roots in Scotland. As in all of Edwards-involved collections, there are brief biographies to accompany each story.

There are 17 stories total and my experience was very positive after a slow start. Among my favorites were some authors I knew but more that were brand new. Among these are Footsteps by Anthony Wynne, The Body of Sir Henry by Augustus Muir, Madame Ville d’Aubier by Josephine Tey, Thursday’s Child by Cyril Hare, The Alibi Man by Bill Knox, The Fishermen by Michael Innes, and The Running of the Deer by P.M. Hubbard. Some were straight forward procedurals. Others were more twisted and surprising. A couple left me guessing. A good collection and recommended

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Martin Edwards has curated another collection of nearly lost Golden Age mysteries. This time, the unifying setting is Scotland. While the stories were a mixed read for me, ranging from slight to delightful. I particularly enjoyed "A Medical Crime" and "The Body of Sir Henry". I was inspired to go looking for more works from some of these writers!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In addition to finding long out-of-print mystery novels, the British Library Crime Classic series also collects golden age short stories, usually grouped by a specific theme or location. “The Edinburgh Mystery And Other Tales of Scottish Crime”, edited by Martin Edwards, is a collection of stories that are all tied (somewhat tenuously in some cases) to Scotland. As with most of these collections, the quality, length, and renown of the stories vary, but in general it’s always a good read and introduces you to one or two authors that you might not have known.

“Markheim” by Robert Louis Stevenson: A thief at Christmas has to confront his personal views on evil. Pretty interesting.
“The Field Bazaar” by Arthur Conan Doyle: Not really even a story, just Holmes being Holmes.
“The Edinburgh Mystery” by Baroness Orczy: Love, murder, and some stolen earrings. And the man playing with string!
“The Honour of Israel Gow” by G.K. Chesterton: a strange but honest man leads Father Brown to draw some fanciful conclusions.
“A Medical Crime” by J. Storer Clouston: An outsider has to decide who committed medical themed crimes. Clever.
“Footsteps” by Anthony Wynn. Mysterious footsteps lead to hidden secrets.
“The White Line” by John Ferguson: A stolen necklace will decide which of the two suitors will win the hand of the young lady. Fun.
“The Body of Sir Henry” by Augustus Muir: Did a young constable see a dead body in a passing car during a stormy night?
“Madame Ville d'Aubier” by Josephine Tey: A couple is not very welcome in a small French village. Not Ms. Tey’s best work.
“The Man on Ben Na Garve” by H.H. Bashford: Did the gentleman telling the story witness the murderer of a fisherman? A disappointing ending.
“Before Insulin” by J.J. Connington: Did the patient die before he came of age to write a new will? And who benefits?
“The Case of the Frugal Cake” by Margot Bennett: A miserly woman’s death is solved thanks to her stinginess.
“Thursday's Child” by Cyril Hare: Will the offer to buy a remote island help identify a killer? Interesting, the perils of being greedy.
“The Alibi Man” by Bill Knox: Why is a man being held captive in a cellar for no apparent reason?
“The Fisherman” by Michael Innes: A murder during a fishing has clues pointing at everyone. One shouldn’t try to be too clever.
“The Running of the Deer” by P.M. Hubbard: What caused the deer to run at the hunters, resulting in the death of one of the team?
“Hand in Glove” by Jennie Melville: A mistress questions her lover’s intentions.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

The Edinburgh Mystery: And Other Tales of Scottish Crime is a well-chosen anthology of Scottish-set short crime-mystery stories spanning the period from the 1880s to the 1970s. Martin Edwards is a prolific critic, commentator and anthologist of crime fiction, and a well-respected crime writer in his own right. As Edwards states in his introduction:
"This anthology celebrates Scotland's contribution to classic crime and offers a blend of stories written by Scottish authors together with short mysteries, like the title story, which are set north of the border."
(Loc. 53)
As is the case with all anthologies, readers will find that they enjoy some of the featured stories more than others. My personal favourites in this collection were the titular The Edinburgh Mystery by Baroness Emmuska Orczy (of The Scarlet Pimpernel fame!), the gothic "Footsteps" by Anthony Wynne, "The Body of Sir Henry" by Augustus Muir, The Man on Ben Na Garve by Henry Howarth Bashford and "Thursday's Child" by Cyril Hare.
My thanks to the editor, Martin Edwards, publisher Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this excellent title.

The Edinburgh Mystery
Martin Edwards
Sorry to say so but just could not get interested. Held on for the intro and most of the first three stories but couldn’t go on. Had to DNF.

British Library Crime Classics edited by Martin Edwards are just awesome ways to discover old mystery writers who are mostly forgotten. Short stories collections are the chance to discover more of them in just a few pages. And I really, really enjoyed Scotland when we had the chance to go there in summer 2016. So the combination of all three is the perfect choice for me!

As with any collection, some stories were better than others. Big names that one might expect when talking of Scotland were all there, but sometimes not at their best: Arthur Conan Doyle (I felt like he was doing the strict minimum), Chesterton with Father Brown (the story made no sense to me), Josephine Tey (with a story set in France), Robert Louis Stevenson (a rather lengthy Gothic tale that felt a bit off topic when compared to the other stories).

The most fun were clearly with writers quite unknown to me, from the Golden age until more recent times. Some intriguing stories are set on islands, like Thursday’s Child by Cyril Hare (1959), some on mountains, like The Man on Ben Na Garve (1933) by Henry Bashford. There are straigtforward whodunnit (or rather, clever how-did-they-do-it? like The Case of the Frugal Cake by Margot Bennett, which was full of dark humor) or atmospheric pieces like The Running of the Deer by P.M. Hubbard

Among the best discoveries whose author I shall investigate, there are: A Medical Case by J. Storer Clouston (1920), The Body of Sir Henry – Augustus Muir (1929) with a courageous young countryside cop, and Hand in Glove by Jennie Melville (1974), where small village gossips and hypocrisies meet a perfect revenge.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. I received a free copy of this book for review consideration.

Any anthologies of Golden Age story edited by Martin Edwards is an excellent anthology. This one wasn't a favourite even if it features a lot of authors I love and made me discover some new.
There's different type of stories from gothic to whodunnit, all are well written and the rest is up to your taste.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

I like to read short mysteries, and this book contains several that all have a connection to Scotland. They range from Robert Louis Stevenson and Conan Doyle´s Sherlock Holmes over Baroness Orczy, Josephine Tey, Cyril Hare till Michael Innes in the 1960s, and also includes a couple of authors I hadn´t heard of before.
Like in every collection of short stories they are of different quality, some more gothic, others simple or not easily understandable, and there´s also fun in some of those. There were some I didn´t like much, but most of them were to my taste. It took me a while though to read them all. On the whole a good collection.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I had a hard time sustaining interest in these, but enjoyed that they all focused on Scotland--one of my favorite countries!

More dedicated mystery readers than I will likely enjoy them more, especially those familiar with the authors. But, I did appreciate the opportunity to give it a try!

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Martin Edwards has been editing titles in this series for a while now. He does a most excellent job.

This time, Edwards turns to Scotland with a collection of seventeen stories from the classic mystery fiction tradition. I found many of my favorite authors here including Conan Doyle, G.K. Chesterton, Josephine Tey, and Cyril Hare. I was also introduced to some new authors which added pleasure to my reading experience.

Be sure to read the introduction. It is filled with interesting and helpful context. I also liked the author biographies that prefaced each entry.

This book is just right for when a short story (and not a novel) is called for. Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

EXCERPT: (Taken from The Case of the Frugal Cake by Margot Bennett)
Aunt Ellen was rich; Aunt Ellen was a miser. She kept her money in a trunk in the bedroom, and counted it by candlelight. So they said. She was too mean to buy cow's milk and kept a goat in the garden.
The goat and Cousin Hilda were Aunt Ellen's only extravagances. Cousin Hilda had lived in the cottage with Aunt Ellen for twelve years. Cousin Hilda milked the goat, fetched the water from the well, sifted the cinders, and didn't eat enough to stretch a mouse-skin. They said she'd get it all back one day. She was only forty-two. The money would come to Hilda in the end. She was the only relation, so they said in the village until Jeremy turned up.

ABOUT 'THE EDINBURGH MYSTERY & OTHER TALES OF SCOTTISH CRIME': Readers who know Scotland will glow with recognition; those who don't will want to pack their bags and maybe a gun." — Kirkus Reviews From the Highlands to the borders, the bustling cities to the remote isles in cold seas, the unique landscapes and locales of Scotland have long inspired writers of the very best Golden Age mysteries. Beginning with the adventures of Sherlock Holmes from Edinburgh-born Arthur Conan Doyle, this new collection includes the ingenious scientific mysteries of Anthony Wynne, the dark and sardonic work of Margot Bennett and contributions from neglected yet brilliant authors such as Scobie Mackenzie and R. T. Campbell.

MY THOUGHTS: 17 tales of murder and mystery are contained within this volume. It's a mixed bag and there's certain to be something for everyone.

1. Markheim by Robert Louis Stevenson ⭐⭐ A man who has lost money on the stock market turns to crime to try and recoup his losses. I liked the ending but not much else.

2. The Field Bazaar by Arthur Conan Doyle ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Short and pithy. Holmes powers of deduction stun Watson.

3. The Edinburgh Mystery by Baroness Orczy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A tale of love and greed, the solution to which never occurred to me.

4. The Honour of Israel Gow by G.K. Chesterton ⭐⭐ Some strange clues puzzle Father Brown. Lots of prevarication annoyed me.

5. A Medical Crime by J. Storer Clouston ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A quick, clever and entertaining read.

6. Footsteps by Anthony Wynn ⭐⭐⭐ Quite clever, but I was never quite invested in it.

7. The White Line by John Ferguson ⭐⭐⭐⭐ One wealthy young lady, two suitors and a diamond necklace spell trouble.

8. The Body of Sir Henry by Augustus Muir ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A young, inexperienced Constable is almost taken in by the charms of a duplicitous woman.

9. Madame Ville d'Aubier by Josephine Tey ⭐⭐.5 A brief, but not particularly satisfying story about a chance encounter.

10. The Man on Ben Na Garve by H.H. Bashford ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A fisherman dies a suspicious death.

11. Before Insulin by J.J. Connington ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The title really says it all.

12. The Case of the Frugal Cake by Margot Bennett ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 This appealed to my sense of humour.

13. Thursday's Child by Cyril Hare ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 Greed is the undoing of an impostor.

14. The Alibi Man by Bill Knox ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A man is held against his will.

15. The Fisherman by Michael Innes ⭐⭐⭐ Four men are invited for a fishing weekend by a fifth and a comedy of discomfiture ensues.

16. The Running of the Deer by P.M. Hubbard ⭐⭐⭐ This short story could have been much shorter with greater effect.

17. Hand in Glove by Jennie Melville ⭐.5 I failed to find anything to like.

⭐⭐⭐.5 rounded up to 4, because there was more to like about this collection than not.

I: @poisonedpenpress

T: @PPPress

#detectivefiction #historicalfiction #murdermystery #mystery #shortstories

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Edinburgh Mystery and Other Tales of Scottish Crime collated by Martin Edwards. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions

First off, I'm not a big fan of short stories in general. However I do love the Golden Age of Detection, the discovery of a lost gem to savor, short story or full length. The British Library Crime Classics series curated by Martin Edwards is the exception. Dare I say it's like a sampler box of chocolates - some you will love, some you will like and some are meh but each is entertaining overall. In this collection I found more to like, some of the authors I had never encountered and had me wanting more. All have a connection to Scotland by author or setting.
The collection contains a Sherlock Holmes story along with authors Baroness Orczy, G K Chesterton, Michael Innes and Robert Louis Stevenson to name a few. After reading one of the anthologies or even one of the many full length mysteries from the Crime Classics series, I find myself on a quest to find other stories from authors I have discovered. I cross my fingers that Martin Edwards will reward me soon with another treasure by one of them.
My thanks to the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another good anthology of mysteries from the British Library Crime Classics. This time they take place in Edinburgh and other places in Scotland. A nice mixture of authors you know and probably some you don't and different styles.

The only one I was really disappointed in featured Sherlock Holmes. There wasn't really any mystery, just showing his deductive powers and the connection to Scotland was only mentioned as a location with little consequence.

But, that's just a small quibble about one story. I enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Another interesting mystery anthology from The British Library Crime Classics, this time with a Scottish theme - either the story takes place in Scotland or the writer is Scottish.

Like all the BL crime anthologies, it’s a mixed bag and hard to rate. Some stories I had already read in other anthologies, for example Before Insulin which is included in the Bodies in the Library series. Some stories, like the Sherlock Holmes and Josephine Tey trifles, I wouldn’t even call mysteries, rather vignettes or curiosities.

The stories are presented more or less chronologically and range in age from the 1880s to the 1970s. I found most of the older stories underwhelming and, what’s worse, void of suspense. However, the well-written foreword and the informative introductions of the authors almost made up for this. I got a sense of what was written at the time and the context of the stories, which was very interesting. Once we enter the later part of 1920s, there are some enjoyable stories and also authors that I hadn’t heard of before. The Body of Sir Henry by Augustus Muir (1929), The Man on Ben Na Garve by H H Bashford (1933) and The Alibi Man by Bill Knox (1965) are all suspenseful, exciting reads with twist endings. The three concluding stories (from the 1970s) by Michael Innes, P M Hubbard and Jennie Melville are excellent, with very strong descriptions of place and characters.

All in all, the stories rate from 2 stars to 4 stars, so I’ll compromise by rating the anthology 3 stars. I did miss my favorite Scottish crime writer, William Roughead, “the Henry James of true crime”, but I understand that the BLCC are strictly whodunnits.

I received the proof of this book from netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

This is essentially a collection of short stories written about Scotland or by Scottish authors. Some authors are more well-known than others. The collection as a whole was interesting but there were a few individually that just didn't grab my attention at all. This isn't the type of book I normally gravitate toward so maybe it's unfair of me to be reviewing it. I'm sure there are a lot of people out there that would enjoy this book but it just wasn't for me.